Structural unit



Aug. 17, 1926.

- 2 Sheet's-Shet 1 Filed April 13. 1926 Inventor Attorney H. J. KREY STRUCTURAL UN I T Filed April 13, l926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Altzomey Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

EERMAN JOSEPH KBEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STRUCTURAL UNIT.

Application filed April 13, 1926. Serial No. 101,706.

The present invention relates to improvements in structural units for use in building constructions and has for its principal object to provide a pair of complemental channel bars adapted to form an I-beam, means cooperating with the channel bar for looking the same in cooperative relation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a structural unit which includes a par of cap members adapted to be fitted over the upper and lower laterally extending portions of the channel members whereby the channel members form the sub stantially I-shaped beam, means being adapted to extend through one of the cap members and cooperating with the inner op posed faces of the channel bars for looking the latter in said cap members.

A further object is to provide a structural unit of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for-which it is designed.

Other obiects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and wherein likereference characters designate like parts throughout the several views":

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the structural unit embodying my invention showing the same forming a part of the right angular connection which is mounted on a ceiling.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the joint formed by the intersecting beams.

Figure 3 is a sectional viewshowing the manner in which the unit is attached at one end to a vertical standard column.

Figure 4; is a detail perspective view thereof. Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail showing the upper cap member carrying the screws and also showing the longitudinally extending ribs formed on one of the channel bars. Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the manner in which sheathing is secured to the E-beam.

' the upper one end of the structural unit.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the channel bars.

Fi re 9 through the structural unit showing the screw disposed between the opposed faces of the channel barsfor expanding the latter in the upper and lower cap members.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the cap members, and

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of the structural unit before the expanding screw is inserted between the channel bars.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the structural unit comprising a pairof complementary channel bars designated by the numerals 1 and 2 respectively. The inner opposed faces of the channel bars 1 and 2 are provided with the longitudinally extending corrugations or ribs 3 and 4 respectively, and this construction is more clearly illustrated in Figures 8,

9 and 11 of the drawings. The purpose of this arrangement will hereinafter be more fully described.

Adapted for cooperation with the upper lateral extension or sides 5 and 6 of the channel bars 1 and 2 respectively is the upper cap member 7 This cap member is formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the longitudinal edge portions of which are disposed downwardly adjacent the edges of the sides 5 and 6 of the channel bar, and the longitudinal edge portions of said strip or sheet of metal forming the cap 7 are then bent as illustrated at'8 so as to be disposed adjacent the bottom faces of the upper sides 5 and 6 of the channel bars 1 and 2 respectively in the manner as clearly shown in the drawings.

A similar cap member 9 is disposed over the lower sides 10 and 11 of the channel bars 1 and 2 respectively, and the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge portions 12 of the lower .cap member 9 extend over the upper faces of the' lower sides 10 and 11. The channel bars 1 and 2 are adapted to haye their upper sides. 5 and 6 disposed within cap member 8 while the lower sides 10 and 11 of the channel bars are dlsis a vertical sectional view per cap member 7 is provided with suitable openings 1a to receive these screws and these openings are preferably formed in the cap member 7 so as to be disposed in alignment with the space formed between the opposed faces of the channhl bars 1 and 2. The threads of the screws 13 are adapted for cooperation with the longitudinally extending ribs or corrugations 3 and 4 formed on the inner opposed faces of the channel bars 1 and 2 in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 9, and it is obvious that when these screws are threaded downwardly between the channel bars, the latter will be forced outwardly so that the upper and lower sides or end portions of the channel bars will move outwardly in the respective cap members, and. when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 9, the channel bars will be locked in position in the cap members, thus forming a rigid structural unit in theform of an I-beam which may be used for building construction purposes wherever required, such as in the formation of walls, ceilings, floors, and the like.

With reference now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the I-beams are disposed in intersecting relation to provide a substantially right angular joint, ,which'joint is secured to the ceiling A, the

supporting standard or column therefore being shown at B.

In order that the I-beams'may be disposed in right angular formation, the same are arranged in the manner as clearly shown in these aforementioned figures and to this end, one pair of aligning I-beams have their ends provided with the extension 15 on the vertical portions of the channel bars, and these extensions are clearly shown in Figure 7 The extensions 15 are adapted to be bent outwardly in opposite directions, and securedto the I-beam which is disposed between the spaced ends of the pair of aligning I-beams by any appropriate fastening means shown at 16, it being understood of course that the extensions 15 are provided with suitable openings such as are shown at 17 to receive the fastening means 16.

In Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown the maner in which the I-beam is secured at. its end to a vertical standard or column, and in this respect there is formed 1,59c,sco

on one end of the Vertical portion of one of the channel bars, the strap portion 18 and this strap portion is adapted to be bent around the supporting column or standard B and secured thereto by any suitable securing means such as is shown at 19. The free end of the strap portion 18 is disposed adjacent the vertical portion of the complementary channel bar and is secured thereto by the fastening means as shown at 20 with reference more particularly to Figure 3. In this manner, the end of the I-beam may be secured to a Vertical standard or column. It is of course understood that the end of the I-beam is cut away to conform to the shape of the standard or column, and this is clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figure 6, the l-beam is shown as being adapted for association with a piece of sheathing O which may form a wall and the screw 13 which provide a means for locking the channel bars in the cap members also provide a means for securing the sheathing to the I-beam.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a novel I-beam construction which forms a structural unit for usein building constructions, and the simplicity in which the unit is assembled will save considerable time and la bor in constructing the unit and further in assembling the same during the construction of a building or the like.

A structural unit of the abovementioned character will at all times be strong and durable.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the in-- vention (and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A structural unit comprising a pair of complementary channel bars, a pair of channeled cap members, the side portions of the channel bars being adapted to be disposed within the respective channeled cap members, means for effecting the locking of the side portions of the side bars in the respective channeled cap member. said means comprising screw members adapted to extend through one of the cap members and threaded between the opposed faces of the channel bars for moving the same outwardly in opposite directions.

2. A structural unit comprising a pair of complementary channel bars, a pair of channeled cap members, the side portions of the channel bars being adapted to be disposed within the respective channeled cap members, means for effecting the locking of the side portions of the side bars in the respective channeled cap member, said means comprising screw members adapted to extend through one of the cap members and threaded between the 0p osed faces of the channel bars for moving t e same outwardly in opposite direction, the inner opposed faces of the channel bars having longitudinally extending corrugations formed thereon for cooperation with the threads of the 10 locking screws.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERMAN JOSEPH KREY. 

